Reuters reports that "the United States said on Tuesday it was deploying a new force of special operations troops to Iraq to conduct raids against Islamic State there and in neighboring Syria, in a ratcheting up of Washington's campaign against the group."

"U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the deployment of the new 'specialized expeditionary targeting force' was being carried out in coordination with Iraq's government and would aid Iraqi government security forces and Kurdish peshmerga forces."

"'These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture ISIL leaders,' Carter told the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, using an acronym for Islamic State."

Reuters later reported a specific number: "A new force of special operations troops being deployed by the United States to Iraq will likely number around 100, U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren said on Wednesday."